PROCEEDI N GS 



OP THE 



FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING 



OF THE 



^icl^i^kr) S^^odiatior) 



OF 



Veterans of the War with Mexico, 



HELD AT 



K:^^x_.^^]VE^^2ioo, ]vcio:Ea:i<3-^^isr, 



Tuesday, June 19, 1877. 



LUDINGTOIS, MICH.: 

UECORD BOOK AND JOB PRINTING H0C9B. 
1877. 



PROCEEDI NGS 



OF THE 



FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING 



OP THE 



>iiel\i^ki\ S^^odktior( 



OF 



Veterans of the War with Mexico, 



HELD AT 



Tuesday, June 19, 1877. 



LUDINGTON, MICH.: 

IIECOBI) JOB PRINTING HOUSE. 
1877. 



OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. 



PrmcZewt— ANDREW T. McREYNOLDS, Grand Rapids. 
Vice President— JAMES E. PITMAN, Detroit. 
Secretary— ISAAC GIBSON, Ludington. 
Treasurer— F. W. CURTENIUS, Kalamazoo. 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



Andrew T. McReynolds, Grand Rapids, 
James E. Pitman, Detroit. 

Isaac Gibson, Ludington, 

F. W. Curtenius, Kalamazoo, 

Napoleon B. Rowley, Detroit. 

Charles S. Bostick, New Troy. 



OF THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



HiE^ieliip 0jf Ik© lig©lli| Mi it lalaniz®® In© i@, "f f . 



Tuesday, June 19th, 1877. 

Association met at the Com-t House at 2 o'clock P. M., and 
was called to order by President, Andrew T. McReynolds. 

By order of the President, the Secretary called the roll, and 
the following members answered to their names, viz : 



Charles H. Bostick, 
e. bogaruus, 
Levi Bartholomew, 
C. R. Beach, 
A. G. Barnes, 
Jesse W. Corder, 
Oscar F Coleman, 

F. W. CuRTENtUS. 

0. S. Case, 
EiwiN Childs, 
J. M. Coleman, 
H. Cavenaugh, 
Isaac Delonc, 
Joseph Davidson, 
N. Greusel, 
Isaac Gibson, 
Henry Gier, 
s. holliday. 
N. A. Hix, 

R. VV. HlNMAN, 

Wm. H. Harrison, 
Martin Lipe, 
Andrew T. McReynolds, 
E. R. Merrifield, 
E. Marble, 



E. F. MuiR, 
Joseph M. C. More, 
Charles H. Miller, 
Moses Milltgan, 
Daniel McConnell, 
James A. Nelson, 
Enos Parish, 
Andrew Pfiffer, 
N. B. Rowley, 
C. W. Sandford, 
L. C. Starkey, 
Henry Starkey, 
Theodore B. Smith, 
T. B. W. Stockton, 
John Shultz, 

R. R. TlNGLEY, 

Elisha Tyler, 
Isaac D . Toll, 
C. W. Williams, 
Jacob T. Wise, 
J. Mott Williams, 
A. J. Whitney, 
Wm. B. White, 
C. B Wood. 



Alpheus S. Williams. 
[Soon after roll caH, several members who were absent, arrived. There 
were in attendance at the meeting seventy members. The roll was not 
called the second time. — Sec' v.] 



4 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

On motion, the reading of the proceedings of the last meet- 
ing was dispensed with, and the report of the Secretary was ac- 
cepted. 

N. B. Rawley offered the followmg resolution, viz : 

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, by the President, to draft 
and report a Constitution for the government of this Association. 

Which motion was adopted, and the President appointed N. 
B. Rowley, Daniel McConnell, Isaac D. Toll, Henry Starkey, 
and Charles H. Bostick such committee. 

Whereupon the committee retired to perform the duty requir- 
ed by the resolution. 

On motion of Alpheus S. Williams, the President appointed 
a committee of five on resolutions, to-wit : Alpheus S. Will- 
iams, F. W. Curtenius, Daniel McConnell, Charles H. Miller, 
and Isaac D. Toll. 

The President announced the next business in order, would 
be the election of officers for the ensuing year. 

Whereupon C. H. Bostick moved the association, that the 
present officers be re-elected by acclamation — which resolution 
was unanimously carried. 

The President then read the following letter : 

Michigan Central Railroad Company. ) 

General Passenger and Ticket Agent's Office, \ 
Chicago, 111., May 17th, 1877. ) 
A. T. Mc Reynolds^ Esq., Grand Rapids, Michigan: 

Dear Sir — I am in receipt of yours of May 16th and shall be pleased to 
make for the Mexican Veterans a rate of two (2) cents per mile for the 
round trip; but we must know from what stations they will take our trains, 
and they must also have certificates of identification. 

We subscribe to the sentiment contained in your letter and here's our 
toast — 

"God bless the Veterans of the Mexican War." 

Yours truly, 

Henry C. Wentworth, 

GenH Pass, and Ticket Agent. 

Gen. McReynolds, in a few appropriate remarks, returned his 
thanks to the association for this renewal token of their confi- 
dence and esteem. He had secured half-fare rates for the Vet- 
erans from the Michigan Central Railroad, the L. S. <fc M. S. 
R. R., the G. R. & I. R. R. and the C. <fc M. L. S. R. R.— 
the only road in the State which refused to make such reduction 
being the Detroit &- Milwaukee Railway, for the novel reason 
that there were too few of them to make it an object. The Gen- 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 5 

eral was particularly severe in his censure of the latter road for 
the discourtesy it paid to the Mexican War survivors. He said 
that no other interest contributed to the wealth of American 
railroads more than the soldier element, instancing the enormous 
wealth added to the treasury of railroad corporations by the 
transportation of troops during the war of the rebellion. The 
General was applauded by the Veterans for his remarks on this 
subject. 

Secretary Gibson said that the Flint & Pere Marquette R'y 
had, on his application at the January meeting and this one also, 
cheerfully furnished reduced fare to the Veterans who wished to 
attend the meetings of the Association. Col. Stockton also spoke 
in praise of the courteous manner in which the officers of the F. 
&. P. M. R'y responded to the request for reduced fare for the 
Mexican War Veterans. 

The committee on resolutions being ready, reported through 
their Secretary, Isaac D. Toll, the following resolutions : 

1. That we find great cause of congi-atulation of the assemblage here to- 
day of so many of the comparatively few survivors of the memoriable war 
with Mexico and earnestly hope that the golden band of fellowship may 
grow brighter with each succeeding year to the perpetuity of our association 

2. That in the opinion of this convention the time has fully arrived for 
the government of the United States, in conformity with its beneficent meas- 
ures towards the patriotic soldiers of previous wars, to manifest its appreci- 
ation of the valuable services of the soldiers of the Mexican war by the ad- 
option of a pension law similar in its provisions to that which passed one 
house of the late Congress. 

3. That, while disposed to be generous to a sister Republic, we cannot 
view the continued outrages upon American citizens and property as prac- 
ticed by the borderers of Mexico with longer forbearance, and that self-re- 
spect and protection alike demand the chastisement of the perpetrators by 
use of the military forces of the United States. 

4. That disavowing any disposition to touch political questions, we never- 
theless cordialy approye of a policy by the administration which may tend 
to harmonize all portions of the country and to cement the Federal Union. 

President McReynolds then read the following, which he had 

put into the hands of the committee, for their consideration : 

Whereas, The members of this organization, at the period of life defend- 
ed the integrity '.f the Federal Union and the honor of its flag in the san- 
guinarv fields of Mexico during the war with that couutry, and many of us 
when the Union of States was imperiled from within, marched to the rescue 
with unfaltering step under soul-inspiring banner— "The Constitution and 
the Union, one and indivisible" — in view of which we deem it to be our priv- 
ilege as well as duty to give public expression to our appreciation of the 
blessings of a restored Union, and to give honor to whom honor is due; and 

Whereas, After long years of civil commotion, contention and strife, 
whereby the fraternal relations, the industries, prosperity and peace of the 
republic were seriou.sly menaced, have now been happily restored, and our 



(•; MICIIirTAX ASSOCIATION 

Union is again inact in all its pristine purity, with np hostile bayonet to in- 
terpose between the people of the respective States and their local govern- 
ments; and ,. . ' 7, , 

Whereas, We recognize in the policy of his Excellency, Rutherford B. 
Hafes", President of the United States, as recently consumiiiated in 'the' 
Stages of Louisiana i\nd South Carolina, the insti-umentality thiit hng; achiev- 
ed those noble ends, by which order has lieen wrenched from tl^ie grasp of 
chaos, and peace, fraternity and unity restored to our common 'coubtry^ 
therefore be it . . 

hesolved\ That the action of President Hayes in the promises entitles hiin" 
to the'^ratitivdBand esieem of the Amerioan people ' irrespective of pja'tyj 
and commends the cordial approval of this association. 

The resolutions being under discussion, CdI., Toll said I,be- 
lieyeihfit those who know me will not charge that I take counsel 
of my fears,, , while agreeing with our gallant President in his 
commendation of the consillatory policy of Gren. Hayes, never- 
timeless as the 4.th resolution proposed might be deemed to be, 
par,tisan.in its character, in its very eulogistic terms of the 
President's entire action toAvards the Southern States, and ..aS;, 
our association should be above suspicion. as. to any political 
bias, I deem the proposed substitute for the comraitt.ee's ,resolut,, 
tion unwise. We should, moreover^ take no action to embar- 
rass, the '.efforts of 6ur friends inf Congress towards the furthcr- 
amx3e of -the small , relief proposed in the pension bill nowiipend- 
ing before that body. A bill the justice of which no one doubts, 
who knows the effects- of the climate and hardships endured by^i 
tbe, Ignited States' soldiers in Mexico, and the small niimber liv-. 
ing annually reduced by the severity of that service. Besides' 
the resolution of the committee covers substantially the , same 
gi;i6xiri(i as that of the' eloquent chairnmn of this convention. 

Alpheus S, Williams, Chairman of the. Committee on Resohi-' 
tions, said that while approving the Southern policy of "Presi- 
dent Hayes so far as it had been developed, he preferred the 
briefer resolution, which the conimittbfe had substituted. While 
he considered President Hayes a patriot and woi^tliy of all hon- 
or for -the conciliatory manner in which he had treated the 
Sd]:?the?n' C[iiesfcion since he began his administration of the wftv^- 
ernmont, he would have the association steer clear, ol. all pi(?li'ti- 
ciil entanglements. - - .' - j '\,i*"^ ,. ^ ' ' ' *^ 

''-in^reltktionr to the third resohition, he ^said *>thesfe'. robber 
gij,ng,4 crossed the Rio Grande river like military expeditions. 
We iriu'st capture these cattle thieves and protect the plundered 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 7 

American citizens on the Southern frontier, and this can only 
be done by following the marauders into their fortresses in Mex- 
ico, and breaking up these bands of assassins and freebooters." 

President McReyhoIds disclainte'd arty political motives in the 
introduction of the resolution which he had the honor of submit-' 
ting to the committee on resolutions. He had spent much of the 
days of his life in the ranks of the Democratic party^ consist- 
ently supporting its men and measures ftom 1844 to the present 
time. He had devoted months on the fetuftap 'last year to defeat 
the election of President Hayes. He is now satisfied that he 
had formed a wrong estimate of President Hayes whom he con- 
sidered a thorough-going patriot and well wisher of. his coun- 
try's liberties and honor. The time for peace and conciliation 
had arrive* 1— for, buvying all animosities and sectional feeling in 
the,treatmcnt of the people of the Southern,. -States. Our, great 
industries had suffered since the close of the wai* of the rebellion 
by the unsettled condition of Southern afiairs. , At.la,st,a solu- 
tion was found for all troubles arising from .the Syuthern ques-, 
tion. .. President Hayes had cut the Gordian knot which had for 
twelve long years perplexed the statesmen of our land. , Hp de- 
sired as a Mexican war veteran-^— who when the hand Of treason 
was raised to destroy this Union — volunteered to save it — to 
endorse the patriotic • policy which- had been promulgated by 
Gen. Hayes who Avas worthy of all honor for his services, both 
as a soldier and as pfc^sident. ' ...;/,,..'; 

Gen; Williams disowned all intention of charging Gen. "Mc- 
Reynolds wit|i_political motives in the presentation of the reso- 
lution which had been submitted for t^e cdnsideTation of the 
committee. There was not a purer or more unselfisli patriot in 
the Union than his Avprthy friend, Gen. McReynolds, who has 
been ever ready to defend' the country's honor and integrity 
when they have been imperiled. 

After some further remarks by Lieut. E. R. MerrifieTd and 
others, the resolutions, as reported by the committee, were 
adopted by a unanimous vote of the association. 

The Secretary announced the death of Gilbert A. Cotton, a 
member of the association, whereupon Charles H. E'dstiskoflPer- 
ed the followinii resolutions in relation thereto : ^ 



8 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

Whereas, We learn -with profound sorrow, of the death of our beloved 
comrade, Gilbert A. Cotton, of Saranac. in the county of Ionia, who de- 
parted this life on the 15th day of March, A . D. 1877, therefore, be it 

B.c.'-ohrd^ That we hereby tender to his widow, in her deep affliction, our 
heartfelt sympatliy, and offer her our condolence in her bereavement. 

Resolved, That the Secretary is hereby instructed to send a copy of the 
foreo-oing resolution to the widow of our late comrade. 

The committee on the Constitution appearinc;, through its 
chairman, N. B. Rowley, reported a constitution. Which re- 
port was accepted, and the constitution adopted. 

On motion of Isaac D. Toll, the following resolution Avas 

carried : 

Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to have the proceedings of this 
meeting and the constitution adopted printed in pamphlet form for disfri- 
bution among the members of this association. 

A vote of thanks was then offered to the Hon. Alplieus S. 
Williams, member of Congress from the Detroit district, for his 
untiring efforts in behalf of the bill granting pensions to the 
veterans of the Mexican war. 

The Secretary read the following letter from the Hon. Gold- 
smith W. Hewitt, of Alabama, viz : 

Washington, .Jan. 13, 1877. 
Isnac Gibson. Esq.: 

Dear Sir. — Yours of Jan. 10th, thanking me in behalf of the brave 
veterans of the Mexican war for the interest 1 took in the passage of the 
pension bill in the House, received and contents noted. These old soldiers 
had many friends in the House and I am glad to inform you and them that 
they had no better friend than Gen. Williams of your own State. The suf- 
ferings and achievements of these old soldiers entitle them to the bounty of 
their country. The friends of the bill hope to pass it through the Senate 
during this session. I shall do all in my power to get it through that body 
at an early day. I feel satisfied that Gen. Grant will approve of the bill if 
it should be passed. I will send you a copy of my speech in a few d;iys. 
Very Respectfully, G. W. HEWITT 

Which was, by a vote of the association, ordered to be print- 
ed in the proceedings of this meeting. 

Charles H. Bostick offered a resolution, to-wit : 

Resolved, That when this association adjourn it adjourn to meet at De- 
troit, on the third Wednesday of June, 1878. 

Which resolution was carried, and Detroit fixed as the next 
place of meeting. 

Isaac D. Toll was then selected orator for the re-union of 
1878. 

The names of Gen. Jas. Shields, of Missouri, and Gen. 
Gideon J. Pillow, of Tennessee, were proposed, and each was, 
by unanimous consent, made honorary members of this associa- 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS, 9 

tiou, and the President and Secretary instructed to notify each 
of the gentlemen of the honor conferred. 

The association then took a recess until 8 o'clock, P.M. 

Evening Session. — The veterans entering the court house 
at 8 o'clock, P. M., were received on behalf of the citizens by 
Col. Delos Phillips, of Kalamazoo. He said . I welcome 
you as soldiers of America; your allegiance is to no State, but 
to one Union — a Nation. Sad indeed will be the day when 
Americans cease to do honor to, and regard with gratitude the 
citizen soldiery, who in all struggles have helped defend our 
honor, our integrity. London did not do more honor to our 
late President than he honored it by becoming its citizen; so I 
feel any community visited by such as you, is more honored 
than you possibly can be by any ceremonies which you may 
have offered you. You are deserving of the gratitude of every 
man, woman and child in these United States for your enlist- 
ment in defense of national honor, and more especially when 
many of you Avent to fight for annexation, the principle of which 
you were opposed to. Your motto was, " My country right 
or wrong, but always my country." By your acts almost a na- 
tionality was added to our domain, the wealth of precious mines, 
and the new line of the Rio Grande was fixed as the new na- 
tional boundary. 

To Avhich address President McReynolds, in behalf of the 
association delivered a response, accepting the hospitalities of 
the people of Kalamazoo. He spoke of the beauty of the vil- 
lage, its institutions and early history, briefly referring to the 
services of his comrades in arms who he said would always hold 
in kindly i-emembrance of this reunion at Kalamazoo, which 
was to conclude with a banquet by the genei'ous and liberal cit- 
izens of the "Big Village." In regard to the motto of the 
Mexican war, " Our country, right or wrong," that was the 
axiom of all good citizens. We cannot always approve of the 
causes which lead to a war but when our soil is invaded by a 
foreign foe and our country is in danger, it is the duty of eve- 
rybody protected by the folds of its flag to stand by it as we 
did durino; the Mexican war. He believed the American cause 



10 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

was right and fought for it. In the same way he fought for the 
Union when it was endangered. 

The next business in order was the dehvery of the annual ad- 
dress by the Hon. Ebenezer S. Eggleston (formerly Consul to 
Cadiz, Spain). He said: — 
Mr. President and Gentlemen — Veterans of the Mexican 

War: 

I have accepted, with no little hesitation, the invitation of 
your president to address you on this your annual meeting. 

This hesitation arises not from any unwillingness on my part 
to bear testimony to the bravery and patriotism of the Mexican 
veterans, but from a feeling of inability to speak in fitting terms 
of the splendor of their acheivements, and the Avonderful results 
that have followed them. 

The fields for observation and thought, opened up here, are so 
wide, so varied and fruitful, that I am at a loss to know where 
to commence, or over what particular field to gleam. 

It would be worse than folly for me to attempt to portray, in 
fitting lano:uao;e, the acheivements of our armies in Mexico, or 
tell of the gallant deeds of the brave men who perilled their 
lives in defence of our flag upon the plains and among the ra- 
vines and mountain passes of that land. 

Your memories will faithfully recall the names of the dead, 
their- heroic deeds, and the bloody fields upon Avhich they fell 
with all the stin-ing events of the time, and they have been 
graphically described and recalled at your former meetings by 
one of your number, who participated in the bloody scenes 
about the City of Mexico. 

I hold in memory the aphorism " that after some well-graced 
actor leaves the stage, men's eyes are idly bent on him who fol- 
lows next," and have not the temerity to pursue a theme that 
has been treated by an orator like Col. McReynolds. 

The causes of the Mexican war, the results of that war, and 
the demands that those results are already making upon us as a 
people for our futui-e action, naturally suggest themselves as 
topics of thought fitting for an occasion like this. 

In 1820, the State of Missouri, formed out of the Louisiana 
Territory, was admitted into the Union as a slave State. To 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. H 

fiicilitate its admission, and to quiet the opposition of the anti- 
slaverj element in the north, the famous Missouri Compromise 
was adopted, limiting the extension of slavery, northward, to 
36° 30, north latitude. 

Prior to this time, by treaty with Spain in 1819, the bounda- 
ry between the United States and the Spanish provinces had 
b een fixed along the Sabine River, so that by the Missouri 
Compromise the limits within which slave States could be or- 
ganized was exceedingly cramped and limited. 

Lying west of the Sabine River was the vast and fertile ter- 
ritory known as Texas; this territory, equal to about six States 
in size, by reason of its position; its climate, the fertility of its 
soil, and its adaptibility for the rearing of the products of slave 
labor, was looked upon as an exceedingly desirable acquisition 
by the promoters of slavery, and indeed as the only direction 
in which its territory could be extended, and various expedients 
were, from time to time, devised by which to obtain possession 
of it; such as forcible seizures, purchase colonization, indepen- 
dence and annexation. 

At the time of the adoption of the treaty, fixing boundaries 
between the U. S. and Spanish possessions, Mexico was a slave- 
holding country. 

In July, 1824, the Mexican Congress prohibited the intro- 
duction of slaves, and providing that no person should be born 
a slave thereafter, and the Congress of 1829 completed the work 
by manumitting every slave in Mexico. 

The necessity of obtaining this country in behalf of the slave- 
holding interest, had taken strong hold of the minds of southern 
politicians, and in 1827 an effort was made through Mr. Poin- 
sett, Minister to Mexico, to purchase it. 

In 1829, a story was put in circulation to the effect that a 
company of British merchants had offered to advance $5,000,- 
000 to the Mexican Governtnent, on condition that the province 
of Texas should be placed under the protection of Great Brit- 
ain, and on the 25th of August, 1829, Gen. Jackson instructed 
Mr. Poinsett to offer $5,000,000 for Texas. 

During this time, and the succeeding five or six years, large 
numbers of adventurers from the western and southern portions 



12 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

of the United States had established themselves in Texas, and 
had indeed become more numeroiis there than were the Mexi- 
cans who previously inhabited the country. Bringing with them 
not only greater energy, industry and intelligence; but a more 
intense and speculative pursuit of future objects. They soon 
took the direction of all public affairs, and naturally enough, as- 
sumed the laws, customs and habits to which they had been 
used, and by their energy and bravery soon acheieved an abso- 
lute independence. 

As a result of her struggle for independence, Texas soon 
found herself deeply involved in a national debt far beyond her 
means of liquidating, and began to look for relief in various 
ways, and among others, sought to be admitted mto the Union 
as a State, and on the 4th of July, 1845, she was admitted. 

A dispute had existed between Texas and Mexico ever since 
Texas had claimed her independence, regarding her southern 
boundary, and the occupation of this disputed territory by the 
government of the United States, brought on hostilities between 
the two governments which resulted in victory for our own 
troops, and the final session to the United States of a territory 
ten degrees in width from north to south, and fifteen in length 
from east to west,covering an area of over seven hundred thous- 
and square miles — equal in size to fifteen States, It is not my 
purpose to discuss the righteousness or unrighteousness of this 
war, nor do I propose to hold either one of the political parties 
of that time responsible for its inception; nor do I care to in- 
(juire which government was immediately responsible for bring- 
ing it on; for whichever government or party, was responsible, 
or Avhatever Avas the motive that controlled in bringing it about, 
it undoubtedly "builded better than it knew." 

However, fai-reaching may have been the vision of the states- 
men of those times, it is hardly possible that they could have 
had the remotest conception of the grand results of their ac- 
tion. If their real object was the acquisition of slave territory, 
that motive, that object has been most signally defeated. Not 
one foot of all that vast territory ever was at any time devoted 
to the support of that institution. If their object was the ac 
quisition of territoiv, for tlie sake of territory, and the opening 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 13 

up of that vast wilderness of hill and valley, mountain and plain 
to exploration and settlement, even then they builded better 
than they knew. No human foresight, no imagination, however 
fi-uitful, could have penetrated the future and seen, or conceived 
of the unheard of developement that parts of that country now 
present. Its agricultural and mineral resources were then whol- 
ly unknown. A writer of that time, a participant in the glories 
of that war, and author of its history, speaking of the future of 
the territory acquired, asks "Will the greater pai't of this vast 
space ever be inhabited by any but the restless hunter and the 
wandering trapper? Two hundred thousand square miles of this 
territory in New California has never been trod on by the feet 
of any civilized being. No spy, or pioneer, or vagarant trapper 
has never returned to report the character and scenery of that 
vast and lonely Avilderness. Two hundred thousand square 
miles more are occupied with broken mountanis and dreary 
wilds." Did any of the veterans now before me who shared in 
the perils and glories of that war, have any, even the faintest 
conception of the broad and deep foundations they were then lay 
ing, for the future prosperity of their country ? Could or did any 
of you in indulging in the wildest of day dreams, see in any pro- 
portion, the grand results that were to follow from your action? 
These results surrounds us to-day, and speak to us not in the 
symbolic language of prophesy, but in those clear and explicit 
tones which passing events always enunciates to the intelligent 
observer. Events which have transpired since the acquisition 
of the territory of such character and magnitude, some of them 
the outgrowth of this acquisition, and some the results of con- 
flicting social and political relations, are intimately interwoven, 
and they .and their consequences, the duties they impose, and 
the policies they suggest, demand of us their careful considera- 
tion and attention. 

First — Let us for a moment consider what has been done by 
Avay of development of parts of this acquired territory, and the 
consequent increase of agriculture, commerce and national 
wealth and resources. The census shows the vast increase of 
our population, and mining, agricultural and commercial statis- 
tics show the increase in wealth and national resources. Time 



14 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

will not permit, nor does the occasion demand, that I should 
trace seperately the histories of New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, 
Colorado, Arizona and California. They all have histories replete 
with interest and startling events, and we are familiar with the 
starting points in each, and indeed the whole of their history is 
a part of our own time and history. There is a romance con- 
nected with the history of Utah which is hardly second in inter- 
est to that which any of our States can present. Mining has 
been, and is, the chief attraction drawing emigrants to Nevada, 
Colorado and Arizona. Mining first started California upon 
her rapid career of growth and development, and led to explo- 
rations of her mountain fortresses, and spread vast populations 
upon her grassy plains and fertile valleys, opening to modern 
civilization her unsurpassed advantages for farming, stock rais- 
ing and fruit growing, the improvement of which led to the 
building of the Western and Union Pacific Railroad, and the 
subsent establishment of the Pacific line of steamships to Jap- 
an and China, and a more complete opening up of commercial 
relations with the people of those nations. A trunk line of 
railroad is like a river with branches leading off in every direc- 
tion. A few branches from the Western and Union Pacific 
have been started from various points and others are in process 
of construction. The road skirts the northern edge of the ter- 
ritory we acquired from Mexico, and until we reach California, 
but a small portion of the country along its track has been set- 
tled. When the road was started, Californiu was the central 
idea of the project; incidental advantages to spring up along 
the route were secondary considerations. Yet these advantages 
have already brought two new^ States into the Union, and have 
made possible the successful working of the mines in Nevada 
and Colorado. Statistics are the bread and beef of mental ex- 
istence, and let me call your attention to a few facts regarding 
the yield of our mines. They will help to form an estimate of 
th^ value of the country ceeded to us by Mexico. At the date 
of the discovery of California the aggregate annual production 
of gold was not over $30,000,000. In 1853, the aggregate an- 
nual production reached its maximum and was valued at $160, 
000,000. The production of California alone, for that year. 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 15 

was $65,000,000. The total product of gold m the United States 
from 1847 to 1873, inclusive, was estimated at the sum of $\,- 
240,000,000. The yield in California for the years 1871, 
1872 and 1873, averaged about $20,000,000 per annum. This 
would make, not including the products of Nevada, Colorado 
and other States and territories, for the three years last past, 
the total product of gold in our country, since 1847, $1,300,- 
000,000. In 1871, the silver product of the United States was 
$22,000,000. In 1872, it was $25,750,000. In 1873, it was 
$36,000,000. In 1874, it was $38,000,000. The total pro- 
duct of the United States, smce 1848, is estimated by R. W. 
Raymond, Commissioner of Mining Statistics, at $225,000,- 
000. This was up to 1773. The product of silver, for the 
three years last past, will swell the sum total to $315,000,000. 
Here we have then the total product of our gold and silver 
mines, since 1847, more than $1,800,000,000. The trifling 
sum of $15,000,000 more than half of the product of the en- 
tire world in the years last named, we will not count, and so 
eave the round numbers full and in a form to be easily remem- 
bered. 

These figures show us the amount of real wealth we have 
already realized from the mines, and there is no reason to doubt 
that future explorations will show us as rich deposits of the 
precious metals as have already been found. The yield of sil- 
ver has been so great within ten years last past, to aflPord Con- 
gress a pretense for demonitizing it. Perhaps we may strike 
gold in such quantities in the mountains of Arizona, or some of 
those other territories, as to compel us to look for some other 
standard of value. Such a happening would not be much more 
wonderful than many of the events that have transpired since 
the Mexican War. 

We may not only hope, but confidently expect, that the ea- 
ger search of miners will bring to light the advantages of those 
great territories for other enterprises than those of mining. 
This was the case in California, and as her prosperity has 
taught us the vulue of our western possessions, a notice of the 
elements of that prosperity and of some of the agencies that 
have combined them and made them productive may prove of 



16 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

interest. The history of the discovery of gold there and its at- 
tendant excitement, of the transfer of populations it caused; of 
the adventures across the plains; of the fluctuations in fortunes 
it caused; and of the transformations of character under its in- 
fluence is dramatic in the interest the rush and variety of its 
events. Our emigrants foi^d a land in which nature chose to 
array herself in robes of rugged grandeur, and also in in her 
most pleasing and peaceful habiliments. The lotus-eater could 
find here his paradise, and the Modoc his' mountain fortresses, 
from which he could only be driven by famine. Earth, air and 
circumstances combined to evolve the best and worst traits of 
men. Good was found among rough and turbulent men, and 
the devil came forth unmasked from the hypocrite. Lynch law 
became necessary for the preservation of society, and this ne- 
cessity grew so urgent, that in San Francisco, when she had at- 
tained a population of more thin a hundred thousand, a vigi- 
lance committee was formed. The government of the city had 
become so corrupt that only good orderly citizens were afraid 
of the agencies of the law. The protection of ruffians in open 
violation of all the principles of moral, social and civil law, was 
the real object of the so-called guardians ot the public weal. 
The whole judicial system had been prostituted to the most un- 
holy purposes either through fear or cupidity, and probably 
through both. No interest, whether public or private, could be 
protected in any judicial form, unless the cupidity of its minis- 
ters was first satisfied. The machinery of the law was the prin- 
cipal mechanism for the accomplishment of the objects of per- 
sonal revenge, and there was safety to neither property or life. 
The vigilance committee was an outgrowth of the necessities of 
the times"; the stern and relentless necessities of self-preserva- 
tion compelled it, and it had so well matured its plans, that 
from the time that with strong and compelling hand, it wrested 
from the miscreants of power, the city government until the day 
it laid down its power, there was but slight attempt at resist- 
ance. There were many points of resemblance between that 
committee and the Venetian Council of Ten, but the resemb- 
lance reached only to the machinery of the two bodies. The 
committee Avorked for righteous purposes, and when those were 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 17 

gained, it passed as quietly from, as it had come upon the stage, 
where it did both bloody and good work. 

After the reign of the committee, California entered upon a 
rapid and prosperous growth. She has developed other riches 
fiir surpassmg in value and extent, those of her mines. She 
has every variety of fruit grown in temperate and tropical zones, 
and the pi-oductiveness of their yield is so great as to bring 
them within the reach of the humblest laborer. They are not 
costly luxuries, but articles of traffic, so cheap and abundant 
that all persons can enjoy them. Our farmers read with feel- 
ings of astonishment of the agricultural advantages, and of the 
wonderful products of the soil ot California; not of the cattle 
upon a thousand hills, but of thousands of cattle upon thous- 
ands of plains, whose privilege it is to fecundate and grow fat; 
of fields of wheat and corn, miles in extent, and bearing more 
bushels to the acre than can be grown in any other State or 
country; of rare plants indigenous to the soil, or brought from 
China and Japan and other parts of the tropical Pacific, and of 
the successful culture of the mulberry and of silk products. In 
many parts of the country the climate is as delightful as the im 
agination can depict. It does not wrap the senses with dreamy 
languor, but it vivifies man with life, and makes him feel as if 
each breath he drew, and each pulse of his heart, was leadin- 
him from, instead of to his grave. There "the sinews bear 
you stifly up," and fit you for work and enterprise, the currents 
of the blood flow strong and healthfully, and send proper food 
and nourishment to the brain. Especially is this true of the 
Valley of San Diego. A truthful description of it, in which 
no word should appear unwarranted by fact, would make tame 
the one which Dr. Johnson gave of the "Happy Valley" which 
sheltered Rasselas, the Prince of Abysinia. The influence 
which the yield of gold in California, Nevada and Colorado has 
exerted upon our national finances, is a subject with which our 
statesmen and political economists have dealt. I shall not pre- 
sent here an array of statistics to prove that the abundance of 
the yield of gold and silver has gone far towards bringing gold 
and our legal tender notes near each other. I assume it to be 
a fiict, and attribute the steady growth of our national credit to 



18 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

that fact, rather than to anything of skill and statesmanship 
shown in dealing with our finances since the close of the war of 
the rebellion. The yield of our mines has come apparently in 
to eke out the scanty and muddy conceptions of our financiers. 
Had we nothing else to point to but California as a result of 
the Mexican Avar, we would have proof that the con- 
test had yielded great and lasting wealth by the na- 
tional acquisition. The lives of good men and true, 
lost in a war, cannot be estimated by any material standard. It 
is a matter of extreme delicac}'' to place in a scale the advan- 
tages gained in a war, and in the opposite scale the men who 
fell in the struggle, and say the benefits far-outweigh the cost, 
but the necessities of nations, compel such an estimate, but out 
of regard to the tender sympathies of the bereaved, we speak of 
the cost, with reference to dollars and cents, and say nothing of 
the value of human lives. If we look at the extension of our 
civilization into unsettled regions, and the redemption of waste 
wilderness from the barbarism of savagery, as something carry- 
ing with it something more of worth than dollars and cents, or 
what can be bought, or made to come out of dollars and cents, 
we get at principles for which lives of men can well be offered. 
Regarded in this light, the Mexican war has paid its cost more 
than a hundred fold. We have California, Colorado and Neva- 
da admitted as States; New Mexico is perfecting plans to gain 
admission; Utah has sufficient population to entitle her to ad- 
mission, and is only denied because she has glued herself to po- 
lygamy. The account with the domain re-acquired from Mexi- 
co must now be accredited with three States admitted; two ter- 
ritories with sufficient population to entitle them to come in, 
with the Pacific railroad and all its present and prospective ben- 
efits, with the annual product of its mines, and vast regions of 
territory which have been sufficiently explored to assure us of 
the fact, that in soil and climate they may challenge comparison 
with our most fiivored States. We have run a railroad along 
the northern edge of the territory, acquired by the war, and we 
now want one through the center of that territory. Gentlemen, 
I think I hear some of you say, that means the Texas Pacific. 
Certainly it does. The facts I have cited point to the Texas 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 19 

Pacific. I am not responsible for these facts. They exist nat- 
turally; they are here before us and in such a shape tliat we 
cannot set them aside. We cannot afford to, nor must we un- 
der any circumstances, allow the lessons of the late rebellion to 
go unheeded or unthouwht of. The cause of that rebellion has 
been, I trust, forever disposed of. No body of men, as I think 
political, ever desire to see it restored. But that war has natur- 
ally left behind it a feeling of animosity (to call it by its mild- 
est name) that is embittered by the daily and hourly recollec- 
tion of losses, and destructions consequent upon it, losses of 
wealth, losses of position, political and social, losses of rela- 
tives, near and dear. No matter who was to blame in bringing 
about the rebellion, the sting that the recollection of such things 
brings with it, would have been the same on either side, had de- 
feat been the result. It is needless to talk about patriotism, 
duty or even Christianity, unless you can enforce their precepts 
with promises of future good. Selfishness is the grand govern- 
ing principle of human action. I do not mean by this that 
gross selfishment that robs a man of his humanity, but that sel- 
fishness that is consonant with pure and good human action. I 
know that I am not quite orthodox in this view, but I believe 
that a wise Providence has implanted in the bosom of man this 
principle of selfishness for good purposes, and without it we 
should be aimless and purposeless. A man embraces Christian- 
ity for the sake of the good he may do thereby to his fellows, 
and the promises of the future rewards, held out to him. A 
man discharges his duty because he has been taught that its 
performance brings its own rewards, if in no other form in the 
consolations of conscience. A man is a patriot, because he be- 
lieves that fidelity to his government will secure to him and his, 
its protection. Satisfy him that the government does not intend 
this, or is unable to secure it, and all his patriotism, like the 
courage of Bob. Acres, will ooze out at his finger's ends. We 
want the Southern Pacific as an additional bond of union to 
help to bind together this vast territory in our indissoluble 
whole. We want it not only because the interests of the peo- 
ple of the Southern States demand it, but because the interests 
of the whole alike demand it; because it will not simply devel- 



20 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATIOX 

op local sectional interests but contribute to the wealth of the 
whole. If we were disposed to do so, we could not ignore the 
facts that stare us in the face. The demands of the entire 
South would not permit it, and when I say demands, I mean 
the rights of the South engendered and made so by their wants. 
Let me say a few words about the South and her rights. She 
has equal rights in the Union with other sections. Never mind 
what she did, or failed to do, in the late civil war. She now 
has equal rights with ourselves. If we had a right to build a 
Pacific railroad to benefit northern States and territories, and 
appropriate the national domain therefor, and lend the credit 
of the government to aid such an enterprise, she has a right 
to demand a reciprocity of benefits. She had a common inter- 
est in the property and money of the government which went 
into that road, and now asks that some of the territory lying 
within her borders and adjacent thereto, may be employed in 
developing her resources. The dangers arising from grants of 
land and subsidies, I shall briefly consider elsewhere. I have 
little sympathy with the sentiment that the south should be 
thankful to be permitted to have' possession of her State govern- 
ments, and should not presume to speak of sectional policies. 
I do not think it is our privilege to use the resources of the na- 
tion as if they were the exclusive property of the north. It is 
for the interest of the whole nation that its resources be brought 
into activity, and its wealth increased. If in pursuit of this 
policy one section is benefitted more than another, the one de- 
riving the lesser advantage is not injured. It is somewhat late 
for us, after taking and reaping the advantages from a lion's 
share of the spoil, to question the morality of the distribution 
of the remainder. We have said to the Southern States that 
the fueds engendered by our civil war should be buried, and 
that she could resume her place in the national government, re- 
habilitated as when she chose to withdraw from the Union. I 
do not consider this to be an act of magnanimity on the part of 
the North. There is no magnanimity about it. It is simply 
a recognition of the supreme law of the land, which declares 
the equality of the States. It would be a nonsensical, were 
it not an infamous doctrine, that a majority of the States can 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 21 

dictate other terms to the minority than are permissable under 
the Constitution. We have had somewhat of this vicious teach- 
ing, and its result has been evil, only evil, and that continually. 
It is a good thing for the nation that President Hayes has chos- 
en to put his heel on such assumption, and bring the govern- 
ment back to its constitutional limits, and again direct the at- 
tention of the people to our organic law as the limit of federal 
authority. 

In considering the question of the development of our south- 
western, and, at present, inaccessible territories, we are to look 
at the interests of the States most nearly interested in the open- 
ing up of that country, precisely as if there had been no such 
thing as a civil war. Here again we are met by the clamor 
that a bargain has been made between the President and south- 
ern leaders, that he and they should co-operate in efforts to se- 
cure federal aid for the Texas Pacific. The life and character 
of Rutherford B. Hayes is the best answer that can be made 
to an assertion, that he would become party to any agreement 
binding him officially to a policy which he believes to be wrong. 
We have not many public men with so clear and clean a record, 
and the people should be taught to confide in honesty, when it 
has been tried and not found wantino;. I know nothing about 
it, and doubt whether any person is much better informed on 
this point, but I think it very probable that the Texas Pacific 
commends itself to the practical statesmanship of the President. 
The routes for the road are indicated by the configuration of 
the country, and roads which are already built. The main line 
will have connections with both Galveston and Memphis. It 
will soon be determined when the road shall be opened, which 
city can draAV to itself the greatest amount of traffic. Galves- 
ton claims superior advantages, and there is enough enterprise 
and capital there to push to its utmost every facility which na- 
ture has granted. 

It has been said that God makes the country and man makes 
the towns. This is a combination of "an eternal truth and a 
blasphemous fiilsehood." God makes the climate, soil, natural 
highways and resources upon which the establishment and 
growth of cities depend. He makes the sites of our great 



22 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

markets of trade, and indicates the channels through which 
commerce shall flow. The means of transit afforded by steam 
are compelled by laws of trade, as unchangeable as those of na- 
ture, to ask the shortest and most available routes between 
points of intercourse. It is true that engineering skill can scale 
or tunnel mountains, or throw bridges of but a single span 
across chasms as precipitous, wide and deep as that of Niagara, 
but in doing these the genius of man obeys the first law of na- 
ture, "necessity," to shorten distance and gain time. The 
bridging a gulf is the abridgement of time and space. Time is 
of the essence of the contract with the common carrier. And 
the common carrier is the geni who reduces the fabulous of the 
Arabian to the common and every-day life with us. 

He exchanges the products of all people. He makes for 
himself courses of travel, along which he carries the commerce 
of all nations, interchanging as the wants and tastes of the sub- 
divisions of the globe may require. He brings Yokohama to 
New York and fills the market stalls of Jeddo with the wares 
of Boston. These things have, as the results of your bravery 
and self-sacrafice, become practicable and matters of fact. We 
desire to make this common carrier ubiquitous upon this conti- 
nent. There are yet vast tracts of territory which, by your 
acts, were wrung from Mexico as indemnity, which he has not 
yet visited, in which may be found all of the countless stores of 
blessings which nature in her richest profession has gathered 
for the happiness and advancement of man. We want him to 
put down his iron rails from ocean to ocean, and develop the re- 
sources of that country, that cost so much of blood and treas- 
urer. We want the countless herds of sheep and cattle, and 
horses that these plains can and should produce. We want the 
earth to bring forth its fruits and grain. We want the miners 
to yield us their gold and silver. We want that great highway 
to carry into its vast expanse of territory, every adjacent attri- 
bute and auxiliary of American civilization, and plant them 
there, these to remain while that civilization shall last, and the 
characteristics in which it has its life shall prove of worth to our 
race and kind. This is one of the highways that nature has 
marked out for a course for the common carrier, and the sooner 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 23 

he shall be able to traverse it, the better it will be for the whole 
people. It will not be a merely local highway. It will be a 
highway for the traffic of nations. The products of China and 
Japan and of Europe as well as those of our own will pass over 
it. It will make complete one ot the grand results of your labor ^ 
it will help to make us the carrying people of the world. But 
you ask how do you propose to master the building of the 
Southern Pacific ? My ansAver would be, by the aid of the gen- 
eral government, as the Western Union was built, avoiding the 
blunders and corruptions that have followed these roads, and 
made their history a reproach. Blunders and corruptions need 
not be repeated. If we are not so utterly wanting in the quali- 
ties of statesmanship, that we cannot avoid repeating the errors 
of the past when those errors are clearly pointed out, and the 
policies and agencies leading to their commission, unmistakably 
indicated, we will do well not to meddle with any legislative 
question, which has been once acted upon in an improper and 
blundering manner. It is not probable that the Texas Pacific 
will ask for governmental credit in addition to grants of land, 
but should bonds be granted the enterprise, the road will be am- 
ple security for a reasonable subsidy of this kind. We need not 
repeat the folly of releasing a first mortgage and taking a second 
upon the road. We need not give by direct or indirect meth- 
ods legislative sanction to a second Credit Mobilier. We need 
not frame a bill regulating the payment of interest in such a 
loose, informal and disjointed fashion that it must be carried to 
the courts for construction. If there has been a plentiful lack- 
ing of brains and conscience in the legislation of Congress, 
touching the Union and Western Pacific roads, does it follow 
that future legislation dealing with a like subject must perforce 
be a mixture of stupidity and scoundrelism? We have men ca- 
pable of wise policies, and incapable of prostituting their offices. 
If this be not so then we are remanded to patience and the edu- 
cation of the people to a standard that will enable them to de- 
tect a fool or demawoocue and brand them as such. One of the 
strongest objections urged against the granting of aid by the 
general government for the building of roads arises from the 
fear that subsidies will not be garded and hedged, that schem- 



24 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

ino- capitalists will be unable to make the whole beneficent de- 
sign a means to subserve their private ends. This argument is 
not against the project jt>er se, but against the capacity and hon- 
est}'' of Congress. It is a general assumption that legislation is 
corrupt. Let us believe and hope otherwise. The neccessity 
for competition is alone a sufficient reason for building the road. 
The opening up of this vast territory to immediate exploration 
and settlement and making available all its varied resources is 
another sufficient reason. The Nation can pay no greater tri- 
bute to the value of your services and sacrifices than by doing 
all in its power to make available to the general good all of the 
vast resources that your valor has won. By so doing we create 
new interests across the Continent, we bring the east and the 
west the north and the south into more immediate relations with 
each, harmonize what now seems to be conflicting interests, and 
form so intimate a connection between them that they cannot be 
sundered. In saying what I have, I have not spoken in behalf 
of the interests of any railroad or railroad company or ring, hav- 
ing never in my life been employed by either, or had any inter- 
est in either. I have spoken of it as a National policy calculat- 
ed in my judgment to do more toward cementing .and binding 
together this vast union of States by making their personal in- 
terests one than any other species of legislation. By it Ave in- 
vite, for transportation, the commerce of Asia and Europe and 
offer the cheapest and shortest route. 

We open new fields for imigration and enterprise in a thousand 
different directions. We shall quicken the pulses of trade and 
rouse into life and activity the business of our country, Avhich is 
noAV prostrate and stagnant. We shall justify the constant pol- 
icy of the republic in the acquisition of new territory. We shall 
justify the statesmanship which foresees the possibilities of the 
future in placing great resources within the grasp of our people. 
We will do one of those things which ought to be done, and 
which to leave undone Avould shoAV us blind to, or negligent of a 
policy in Avhich right and interest unite to declare a foremost 
obligation. 

And now gentlemen Veterans of the Mexican Avar: What I 
have in my feeble Avay depicted as the actual present results of 



OF MEXICAN WAK VETERANS. 25 

the war and what may and ought to be its future results are 
the fruits of your patriotism, your sacrifice, your prowess and 
valor. To you and your comrades are the people of this Nation 
and the interests of the civilized world indebted. You and each 
of you have been actors in one of the grandest achievements in 
American bistoi-y, niore fruitful in wealth and in national 
prosperity, than figures can express, or mind conceive. You 
have given additional luster to the glory and renown of your 
arms. You have the right and ought to be proud that your 
names will forever be connected with, and appear upon, one of 
the brightest pages of American history. The gallant deed, of 
that little army, and its wonderful successes won against such 
fearful odds, are not only the pride and wonder of our own peo- 
ple, but have vvrung wondering approval from the wisest and 
greatest of the generals of that day. May you reap such re- 
wards as a grateful people can and ought to bestow, and may 
you not have to confirm the oft repeated saying that "Repub- 
lics are ungrateful." 

Isaac D. Toll then offered the following resolution, which was 
adopted by acclimation, viz: 

Resolved, That we hereby tender to the Honorable E. S. Eggleston, orator 
of the clay, our hearty thanks for the able and eloquent address just deliv- 
ered by hira before this Association, ;.nd he is i-espectfuUy requested to 
furnish the Secretary a copy thereof. 

Resolved, That the Secretary is hereby insti-ucted to publish the address 
in the official proceedings. 

The formal business being concluded the Association adjourn- 
ed to the Burdict House, to partake of the banquet, prepared 
for them by the citizens of Kalamazoo. 

After partaking of the feast, the following order of proceed- 
ings were had : 

1st, TOAST.— "The Soldiers of the Mexican War— may 
their services ever be held in memory by the People of the Unit- 
ed States." 

Gen. A. S. Williams being called upon to respond to the 
first toast, spoke as follows : 
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Comrades: — 

When, a few moments ago, I consented to respond to the 
toast you have just heard read, I had no idea that I was to 
open the ball by being first called upon to speak. Indeed, to 



2b' MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

be quite frank, I expected by way of preparation, to pick up 
and utilize some of the suggestive thoughts of the eloquent gen- 
tlemen I see around me, who, I am quite sure, are fully armed 
for the occasion, and whose eloquence I have so pleasantly list- 
ened to in times long past. But I submit, as a dutiful soldier, 
to the superior orders of the gallant gentleman. Col. Phillips, 
who honors the Mexican veterans by presiding at this festive 
board. 

Let me first of all, Mexican comrades, express the pleasure I 
feel at this, the first opportunity I have had, to be present at 
one of your annual re-unions. I have been exceedingly grati- 
fied to meet so many of you apparently so strong and full of 
lusty health — aye ! with the show of almost youthful vigor in 
your figures and feelings, I fear in my over-zeal to obtain a 
congressional recognition of 3'onr valuable military services, I 
have done your physical appearances great injustice before the 
pension committee. I have been thinking, and I fear represent- 
ing you, as men, deeply "ni the sere and yellow leaf of life," 
borne down by the privations and exposures of war, and the in- 
firmities of age ! But here you are, some sixt}'' or seventy of 
you, looking sound and vigorous enough for another military 
campaign, and as frisky as an old Avar horse at the sound of the 
trumpet call ! 

But alas, old comrades, you ai-e not all here I Some one has 
said that "it is one of the properties, and perhaps one of the 
rewards, of toils and sufferings like yours that they seem to im- 
part to those who pass through them witli unhrolcen constitu- 
tions, a new tenacity of life." Most of you, comrades, may 
have been, and I hope are, of that fortunate class with iron con- 
stitutions, that neither tropical heats, nor malarious fevers, nor 
exposures and fatigues of campaign life could break doAvn.But 
where are the thousands who went out with you, thirty odd 
Years ago, to that foreiorn war and marched and fought under 
that tropical sun ? Call the roll ! Not one in ten can answer, 
"living !" Not one in twenty can answer, '■'present ! Fit for 
duty!''' How man}'^ of you, my friends, who have come here 
to-day to join your gratulating hands and re-freshen the remem- 
brance of the past associations — stout as you look on the down- 



OF MEXICAN WAK VETERAN'S. 27 

hill of life — can boast entire immunity from the ill effects of 
those Mexican campaigns? 73,000 were enrolled in the Mexi- 
can war, but by reason of double count, early discharges, etc., 
probably not over 65,000 entered the enemy's country. It is 
estimated that by disease and the bullet. 15,000 died during the 
war. Deducting these, and the already pensioned invalids, 
those whS served less than sixty days, desertions, re-enlistments, 
and those who have died since the war, and it is authoritatively 
calculated the surviving veterancs will not exceed scA'en thous- 
and men ! Seven thousand men, my friends, of the sixty-five to 
seventy thousand who in the full vigor of youth and early man- 
hood went out to uphold the flag of the Republic, onl}^ thirty 
years or so ago, now survive in declining j^eai-s to ask of our 
great country the substantial proofs of its justice and its grati- 
tude. It would be out of place here to discuss at large the sub- 
ject of national obligations to national benefactors. All civiliz- 
ed nations have recognized the duty of succeeding generations 
to provide for the necessities of the aged and decriped, who 
have particularly suffered for their country's advancement or 
gloi-y. The soldiers of the Revolutionaiy war, and the war of 
1812, were, in their declining years, made the recipients of the 
nation's bount}^; tardily, perhaps, as to the full recognition of all 
ranks, and luggardly, at times, in the mode and extent of its 
dispensations; but the wholesome principle of national obliga- 
tion to its faithful soldiers has been honestly acknowledged by 
the Republic from its beginning. And now, let us for a mo- 
ment look at this national obligation to the Mexican veterans, 
in a material point of view : What were the results of the 
war upon the nation's increased prosperity and enlarged wealth 
and power ? An empire of measureless mineral and agricultural 
resources, greater in extent than the whole territory of all the 
organized States of the union before the war, was added to our 
national domains, extending our boundaries from the Atlantic 
to the golden shores of the Pacific. More than two thousand 
millions of precious metals have already been added to the ba- 
sis of the world's commerce and trade, and the ports of the Pa- 
cific send forth annually their thousands of ships, freighted with 
cereals, from the fertile fields of this newly-acquired territory. 



28 MlCHiUA.V ASSUClATlOiX 

Millions of people have found in it homes of contentment and 
luxury, where, before the conquest from Mexico, savage nature 
ruled almost undisturbed. Who can estimate with accuracy 
the accelerated growth and increased riches and revenues of our 
country that your patriotic valor, and your privations, and suffer- 
ings, comrades, helped to create ? Surely, we have a right to 
ask, in the language of this toast ' "May their services ever be 
held in memory by the people of the United States." 

But the brief time that is left for the speakers who are to fol- 
low me, admonish me that I must be brief. Let me sav, how- 
ever, to you and to the generous friends of this beautiful vil- 
lage, who have honored us by this banquet and by their pres- 
ence with us to-night, that when our people forget, or cease to 
recognize those grand military achievements which added an 
empire to our Republic, and gave a world-wide fame to the val- 
or of our soldiers, then will fatal apathy to national greatness 
and glory so have chilled the great heart of this Republic that 
freedom c.in find no champions, and national honor no defend- 
ers. Far from the future fortunes of our beloved country may 
that day be, when the remembrance of the past sacrifices and 
gallant services of her sons, stirs not the hearts of her people — 
when national pride makes no response to the recollections ot 
national glory or individual heroism. While we live, comrades, 
our individual friendship, fed by the memory of common priva- 
tions and dangers, will live Avith us; and yet your hearts tell 
you that, year after year, protracted seperations and the en- 
grossments of active life corrode and weaken the links that 
united our earlier sympathies and feelings. You cannot fail to 
have observed, too, that public recognition of past military ser- 
vices and of lively manifestations of national gratitude, even 
towards the soldiers of the late war for the Union, year by year 
weaken and lessen, as passing time and new events interpose to 
dull the popular remembrance of the great military achieve- 
ments of our citizen-soldiers. It is but the law of natui-e act- 
ing upon communities as upon individuals. New generations, 
absorbed in current events, occupy the stage of life. The past 
gradually loses its hold on the popular thought as the world 
moves on. Even history but briefly, if not erroneously, records 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 29 

great occurrences that once moved a nation's heart to its very 
core. But, comrades, it is in these annual gatherings that we 
may rekindle and keep alive our old friendships, and revive and 
perpetuate the sacred memories of the past; there, too, we can 
gather up the truthful records of personal experiences in the 
great events of our country's history that may be to our chil- 
dren's children a source of laudal^e pride and an active incentive 
to lives of honest usefulness. Here too we may help to stimulate 
that high and pure love of National honor and glory among the 
rising generations which are soon "to push us from our stools," 
that shall, in the future as in the past, secure to our beloved 
country peace and happiness at home — honor and respect 
abroad. 

2d TOAST— "The Army and Navy." 

Major Isaac Gibson being called upon to repl}' to the senti- 
ment, said : 
Mr. Chairman, Ladies, Grentlemen and Comrades: — 

If I had been called upon to respond to this toast in the early 
part of the day, before indulging in the luxuries of the enticing 
tables, spread before us by the good people of Kalamazoo, I 
might then have said something suitable to the sentiment pro- 
posed. But having partaken of those good things, and perform- 
ed my duty to the utmost in relieving these tables of their 
dainties, I feel almost too indolent to say anything, and would 
prefer to be a listener. 

However, one moment's reflection of the grand achievements 
of our "Army and Navy," will stir up in the coldest heart, 
gi*eatful thoughts of their noble daring. To us, who are now 
in middle life, it seems as if it was but yesterday that the almost 
immortal Washington was leading throuo-h the frozen snows a 
little army of so-called rebels, against a tyranous king in a war 
for liberty and freedom. How noble that army ! How grand 
and glorious its achievments ! A few thousand men, undiciplin- 
ed and poorly equip ed with war's implements; often hungry 
and almost naked, faced and conquered the proud, diciplined 
and well-armed logons of haughty Brittain. They braved the 
threats of despotism and wrested from England's crown its most 
brdliant jewel. 



30 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

Through the heroic action of that little army of patriots a 
nsw nation, a nation of Freemen, was born, the greatest and 
grandest in its institutions that ever adorned the earth — a 3'oung 
giant of liberty that stands forth to vindicate the rights of 
man. Its civilizing influence has not been confined to this our 
own broad land, its cheering rays have spread across the two 
mighty oceans, carrying the lig|it of liberty to the oppressed 
and downtrodden of Europe and the Orient, Every material 
civil benefit, every step toward equal liberty before the law, re- 
ceived or taken by the people of the old monarchys beyond 
the seas during the last century, is directly attributable to the 
influences of our free institutions established by the heroism of 
the army of the American revolution. Again in after years 
when England claimed supremacy upon the ocean waves, and 
the honor of our country by her assailed, our little army at 
Liinuy's Lane and New Orleans, taught her red-clothed minions 
submission to the "stars and stripes." Throughout that war of 
1812-15, most gallantly did our young navy uphold the nation's 
honor, not only on the crystal waters of Erie and Champlain, 
but also on the ocean's bosom. The Atlantic's billows heard 
t'.ie sound of its tryumphant cannon, and the sun kissing the 
waves reflected his splendors on the folds of its victorious ban- 
ner waving aloft over a conquered foe. When Mexico assault- 
ed and spilled the blood of our citizens upon our own soil and 
"war's wild notes" were heard along the turbid waters of the 
Rio Grande, our army and navy entered the contest and knew 
not one defeat during that two years' war. Our little army, 
under the heroes, Scott and Taylor, won victory on every 
battlefield, although the enemy numbered three to one. Under 
the leadership of the hero of Bridgewater, the little army of less 
than ten thousand, in the seven bloody battles in the Valley of 
Mexico, defeated the self-styled "Napoleon of the South," — 
Santa Anna with, his well entrenched army of forty-two thous- 
and men — and through the olive groves and midst the gilded 
temples of the proud famed city carried the "Scarry Flag." and 
in triumph unfurled its azure folds over the "Halls of the 
Montezuma's." Among this remnent of the actors of those 
scenes, here in this grand hall to-night, with pleasure T behold 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. .31 

some of the companions of my boyhood's wanderings — com- 
rades of those battlefields — whose swords I have beheld, by honor 
crimsoned in the foeman's blood. 

Among the noble actions of our naval heroes, few shine with 
purer lustre than that of the gallant Captain Ingraham, of the 
sloop of war, St. Louis, in the port of Smyrnia, September, 
1855, — Martin Koszta, a Hungurian refugee from Austrian 
oppression, sought our shores, and in the city of New York, de- 
clared his intentions to become a citizen of the United States. 
He afterwards returned to the land of his childhood, and was 
by the Austrian Consul at Smyrnia arrested and imprisoned on 
the charge of owing militar)'^ service to Austria, before his emi- 
gration. Sending to Captain Ingraham, he claimed his protec- 
tion under the American flag as an American citizen. After 
the refusal of the first demand of that brave officer, he cleared 
his decks and trained his cannon, and gave the Austrian thirty 
minutes in which to place Martin Koszta upon the St. Louis' 
deck, or he would raze the Austrian Consulate, and blow the 
Austrian man-of-war out of the waters of the harbor. Before 
the half hour had expired Koszta was on the St. Louis' deck, 
with our national emblem proudly flying from the vessel's mast. 
Thus in a foreign port, on a distant sea, was the honor of our 
flag upheld, and American citizenship protected. Congress ac- 
knowledging his noble conduct, voted him a medal, and he re- 
ceived the warm thanks and admiration of his counti'ymen. 

When fraternal war raged amidst the mountains, plains and 
on the waters of our own loved land, the army and navy, 
through the sulphurous smoke and hail of death, pressed onward 
till the strife was over and our nation again united in the bonds 
of peace and Union. 

3d TOAST— "The Empire State, an Empire in itself, it 
gave us Polk, and with him Annexation." To which 0. W. 
Powers responded. lie said : 

You remember the excitement of the campaign ot Polk, how 
the vote of New York turned the scale and how the few thous- 
and votes thrown to Jas. G. Birney defeated Clay and made 
James K. Polk President. Those were exciting times, politic- 
al feeling ran high, and the fact that you ask me to-night to 



32 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

speak on such a theme shoAvs how soon the bitter partisan feel- 
int'" is forgotten. In the late poUtical struggle I worked for the 
man who did not suceeed to the presidency. I thought it 
wrong that he did not, but the time may come when we will all 
say it was for the best. It is one of the great safeguards of the 
republic, that no matter how sharp the struggle the people yield 
when the decree goes forth and join hands for their common 
country. [Applause.] This is the part of patriotism. It i.s 
the road to peace. 

4th TOA^T— "The Governor of Michigan," responded to 
by Col. Toll. Who said: 

It is no small compliment to our present able executive, that 
he should be pronounced worthy of endorsement by a citize.) 
from the home of John S. Barry,one whohad known him in bo}^- 
hood, our thrice Governor, who had done so much to place our 
State in the financial condition she so proudly occupies. St. 
Joseph county was also the preparatory school of the generous 
Bagley, whose efforts to ameliorate the condition of the unfor- 
tunate, deserve all praise. It has been my good fortune to 
have known nearly all of the chief magistrates of our peninsu- 
la. Among men so distinguished for wisdom and integrity, it 
is hard to discriminate. The historic Cass, the eloquent Ma- 
son, the admirable Fitch, Governor Ransom, for twelve years 
an able judge — the patriotic Blair, unremitting in his exertions 
to place the quota of Michigan in the field — fields distinguished 
for the valor of her sons, showing sagacity in the selection of 
leaders for these great contests, Governor Croswell stands de- 
servedly high. In his case the office whose functions he so ably 
discharges was indicated for him b}' the unsought preference of 
his party. Upon all of the positions occupied he has shed lus- 
tre, and is appreciated for qualities of heart as well as those of 
head. The arbiter of his own fortunes, he has illustrated the 
spnnt of our institutions, and is a Avorthy successor of a distin- 
guished line. Happy are we that in both our civil and military 
record, our State is among the foremost, our Governors, not- 
Avithstanding their meager salary, have been vigilant sentinels 
upon the watch tower, able pilots of the ship of State. Here to- 
night the electric band of felloAvship becomes adamant. As com- 



OF MEXICAN WAK VETERANS. 33 

rades of common perils, we mav greet each other, and espe- 
cially honor these veterans of t\YO wars, our gallant President, 
also the "Father" of his corps, Michigan's own Williams and 
the heroic Greusel, now of Iowa. Yes, we have reason to re- 
joice, that in the qualities of a vigorous manhood, in all that 
tends to make the public weal and that too despite of inade- 
quate legislation, so fiir as the militar}^ is concerned, the sons of 
Michigan, wherever or whenever called upon to fulfill impor- 
tant trusts, in civil walks or in the "iminent deadly breach," 
have ever done their entire dut}-. 

"Michigan Men in the Mexican War and the War of the 
Rebellion," was responded to in fine style by Col. Nicholas 
Greusel (formerly of Detroit) who came 800 miles, from Mt. 
Pleasant, Iowa, to be with the boys. He told his audience how 
he raised the first regiment in Illmois for the war of the rebel- 
lion — and his remarks were frequently applauded as he referred 
to the great sei'vices which the boys of the Mexican war had 
done for the war for the republic, claiming that but for the valor 
and military discipline of the officers and soldiers of the Mexi- 
can war, our own rebellion could not have been so readily crush- 
ed out. 

"The State of Michigan," was happily responded to by Gen. 
F. W. Curtenius, who told how he Avas of the fathers of Michi- 
•gan, and that his children ranged all the way from fifty years of 
age to four months. He said New York was a good State to 
be born in and to emigrate from, but he loved Michigan for 
many qualities which he enumerated, among which were the 
brave men she had furnished to fight the battles of the Repub- 
lic. He said he had lived here forty years of his life. "I love it," 
says the General, "because my friends live here and because I 
live here, and if I have my health I intend to die here." [Great 
applause.] The speaker closed with an eloc[uent sentiment re- 
garding, the Mexican veterans.* 

Gen. McReynolds in response to the sentiment : "President 
Hayes and his order to Gen. Ord." In the course of his re- 

*The speeches of Gen. McReynolds, Gen. Greusel, Gen. Curtinius, 
and some others, were not reported in full, and hence but a brief synopsis 
of each Ciin be publi.shed. — Sec-'y. 



34 MICinUAX ASSOCIATION 

mai'ks he paid a most glowing tribute to President Hayes. He 
said he had come to believe that the elevation of Mr. Hayes to 
the presidency was Providential, for he was a firm believer in 
the doctrine that Providence directs the course of nations and 
controls their destinies. He spoke at length of what the Presi- 
dent had done to harmonize the diflFerences between the oppos- 
ing sections. For the first time since the war the two sections 
were at complete peace. President Hayes, in his noble order 
to Gen. Ord for the protection of American citizens on the 
Mexican frontier, demonstrates himself to be another Gen. 
Jackson who hung Arbuthmot and Ambriter. Hayes would 
protect American citizens wherever found, on land or sea, at 
home or abroad. My friend, our Secretary, has spoken of the 
manner in which Martin Koszta, who had been seized at the 
port of Smyrna and placed on board an Austrian man-of-war. 
Koszta had resided in our country for one year and had appli- 
ed for naturalization. When the gallant and lamented Captain 
Ingraham learned the facts in this case, he notified the Austri- 
an admiral, Avho made the seizure, that Koszta was released 
inside of 15 minutes after the receipt of his order, Koszta 
was released and carried in triumph to his adopted country, the 
"home of the free and the land of the brave." The consequence 
is we have heard of few or no seizures of naturalized x\merican 
citizens, when travelins; abroad on the alleged ground of owinfj 
military service to foreign governments. Gen, McReynolds be- 
came quite eloquent when dilating upon this pomt, and his re- 
marks were frequently interrupted with applause by the Mexi- 
can veterans. He finished by saying that the President's order 
to Gen. Ord was right and Avould cure the outrages on the bor- 
der, — that order was to follow the thieves and murderers into 
Mexican territory if need be — only secure them at all hazzards 
if that government would or could not. 

"Veterans of Michigan we renew to you our Welcome," was 
responded to by Judge H. G. Wells, who spoke as follows : 
Veterans of the Mexican n^ar; 

You are to-day the representatives of a single regiment of 
Michigan men that promptly met the call of your country when 
its rights were imperiled and its honor insulted b}' Mexico; the 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 35 

casualties of war and the stretch of time have thinned your 
ranks and gray hairs and the furrows of the face mark well 
the little assemblage present; still, you and your comrades who 
are dead, are held in affectionate remembrance by the American 
people. You are not forgotten, for your record is an impor- 
tant part of the history of the country; you are welcome here 
m this city of Kalamazoo; we are honored by your presence 
and now in this balmy month of June while the roses are out 
in their fullness of bloom and the foliage wears its deepest green, 
we say to you, soldiers, break ranks and here rest. I could 
dwell for longer time than you would be willing to listen to me, 
(for I am told that the soldier likes a short speech,) on the re- 
sults of the Mexican war, the acqusition of territory, its instru- 
mentality in giving us the mineral wealth that carried us through 
the later national contest. I will only allude to one of the least 
of its incidents. When the City of Mexico capitulated, the 
wise forethought of Gen. Scott secured, through the liberality of 
the people of that city a fund which was invested in four hun- 
dred acres of land at Washington, which now constitutes the 
"Soldier's Home," and a small sum retained out of the month- 
ly pay of each man of the regular army since 1849 gives to the 
invalid soldier a home that any one might be proud of and 
thankful for; its hospital, its lawns, drives, woodland and mead- 
ow, its skillfully cultivated flowers, fruit and vegetables tell you 
that soldiers are men of mind as well as possessed of 
good fighting qualities. A year since I passed through those 
beautiful grounds, and on my way I touched my hat to a soldier 
and made inquiry as to his lost right arm. "It was crushed by 
a shot at Molino del Ray. I served in Mexico under Gen. 
Riley," was his answer. I responded, "Gen. Riley was a 
brave and gallant officer." "Yes," he answered, "he would 
tight the Devil if he assaulted our flag, and we were always 
ready to go were he ordered." At the most prominent point 
of these grounds, looking over toward, and in full view of the 
capitol, stands a full-length and life-like statue, and as every 
man passes that pedestal, the inclination is with uncovered 
head to say, "God bless the memory of General Winfield 
Scott." But T must not weary you with a long talk, for I 



36 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION 

know that there are present, soldiers and civilians who are sil- 
ver-tongued and eloquent. I say again to you, welcome; may 
you be pleased Avith your time with us, may you have lengthen- 
ed days, may you have alwa3's the comforts of life, may the 
o-overnment give, what your gallant services entitle you to, a 
liberal pension law, and in the language of a gallant soldier, 
who went up from the ranks, to a high military position, 
"When the drum beats, may your knapsack be slung." 

Gen. Williams said he was instructed by the business com- 
mittee to offer a resolution of thanks to the people of Kalama- 
zoo for their generous hospitality in entertaining the Mexican 
veterans, and to the railroads which had issued them reduced 
fare tickets, which he now offered as follows : 

Resolved^ That the cordial thanks of the Michigan Mexican War Veter- 
ans' Association are due and hereby tendered to the citizens of tliis beauti- 
ful village of Kalamazoo, for the generous and bountiful hospitality extend- 
ed to the members during their present re-union here. 

Resolved^ That the acknowledgments of the Association be also extended 
to the managers of such railroad companies as have kindly furnished re- 
duced fares to our members for the present meeting. 

Gen. McReynolds, the President, followed the General on 
the same theme, and before putting ths question to the associa- 
tion, spoke in the warmest terms of Judge Wells, whose name 
he said had been a cherished and household word in Michigan 
for many years. He spoke of his great enjoyment of this 
meeting, and said if he should attend a few more he thought he 
should be able to outnumber the years of his grandfather which 
were 105 years, and go through one or more Mexican cam- 
paigns. 

The President then read the resolutions and in a few compli- 
mentary remarks, said. 

The resolution of thanks he proposed should be passed stand- 
ing and with cheers — a motion which was lustily responded to,, 
and with a tiger at the end of it. 

H. C. Wentworth, general passenger agent of the Michigan 
Central railroad, gave as his toast, "God bless the Me.xican 
war veterans," which was received with rounds of applause. 

The banqueters at midnight separated. 

Among the Mexican veterans in attendance at Kalamazoo, 
from Grand Rapids, was Col. D. McConnell, who was a ser- 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 37 

geant major in the 10th U. S. Infantry. In the war of the 
rebellion he was the first Colonel of the 3d Michigan Infantry. 

Among the veterans present and not above enumerated, were: 
Col. Stockton, of Flint; A. J. Whitney, of Detroit; Capt. 
Bogardus, of Ypsilanti; M. Marble, of Ann Arbor; J. A. 
Nelson, of Cedar Springs; Wm. B. White, of Grand Rapids; 
Moses Milligan, of Sand Lake; Jos. M. C. More, of Wayland. 

Among the invited guests at the re-union and banquet were 
Gen. A. A. Stevens, formerly Lieut. Col. of the gallant old 3d 
Michigan infantry; D. C. Henderson of the Allegan Journal; 
General Dwight May, Circuit Judge; Josiah L. Hawes, Post- 
master Kendall, Geo. Torrey of the Kalamazoo Telegraph, and 
several other Kalamazoo gentlemen. Some 70 gentlemen and 
ladies participated in the banquet. 

secretary's report. 
To the President and Association of Mexican War Veterans : 

The undersigned, Secretary, of the said Association, would 
beg leave to report as follows, to-wit : 

That in obedience to the resolution, instructing the Secretary 
to send the Honorable Speaker of the House of Representa- 
tives of the United States, an authenticated copy of a resolu- 
tion of thanks to said body for the passage of the Pension Bill. 
I caused a copy of the same tw be fairly engrossed, and duly 
authenticated by the President and Secretary of this Associa- 
tion, and forwarded the same to the Hon. S. J. Randall, Speak- 
er of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the 
United States. Who duly acknowledged the same, and said he 
would present it to the House of Representatives. 

And 1 also forwarded to the Hon. G. W. Hewitt, of Ala- 
bama, and Hon. A. S. VViHiams, of Michigan, authenticated 
copies of the resolution of thanks to them, for their individual 
aid in the passage of our Pension Bill, which was acknowledg- 
ed by them severally. 

I would also fuather repor-t that I have, so far as in my pow- 
er, notified by circular letters, the members of this Associa- 
tion of the resolution, requesting each member to remit one 
dollar under the resolution, passed at the last meeting, and also 
of the time and place of holding this re-union. 



HS MlOHiaAiN ASSUClATiOK 

It IS with regret that I inform the Association of the death of 
our beloved comrade, Gilbert A. Cotton, of Saranac, Kent 
County, who departed this life on the 15th day of March, 1877. 
He had met with us at our last re-union. 

During the time since, and including the day of our last 
meeting, I have received from members of the Association the 
sum of $28.00. 

Paid out on back indebtedness for previous year, circulars^ 
stationery and postage, $35.36. 

I wish to further add, that Irom personal knowledge and reli- 
able information, I am convinced that out of about two hundred 
veterans in Michigan, not more than thirty, to thirty-five of 
them, are in a pecuniary condition to pay the one dollar annual- 
ly assessed, without a sacrafice of some necessary of life. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

ISAAC GIBSON, 

June 17, 1877. Secre.ary. 



OF MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. 



CONSTITUTION 



ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION. 

Whereas, It is proper to perpetuate the memory of the achievements of 
our Sp:irt:in b.iuJ in the war with Mexico, the results of which have been 
so important to the glory nnd the material prosperity of our country, and 
to keep alive the fraternal sympathies engendered by the mutual hardships 
and successes, we therefore, in thj name of the Michigan Association of 
the Veterans of the War with Mexico, adopt the following Constitution: 



ARTICLE I, 



Any soldier, sailor or marine, of the war with Mexico, and honorably 
discharged, may become a member of this Association. 



ARTICLE 



Ihe officers of this Association shall consist of a President, Vice-Presi- 
dei.t, Secretary, Treasurer and Executive committee, to consist of three 
pei.-ons, to be appointed according to the wish of the Association. 



ARTICLE III. 



An annual fee of one dollar shall be required of all members who are 
able to pay the same. Those who are unable to pay may so report to any 
member of the Executive ('ommitteo. 



ARTICLE IV. 



V'eterans of the War with Mexico, residing in other States, and honora- 
bly discharged, will be enrolled as honorary members of this Association. 



t 






Fractices in the State # United States Courts, 
GRAND RAPIDS, - - - MICHIGAN. 

ISAAC GIBSON, 

LuDiNGTON, Mason County, Mich. 

(practices in the §tate and .Federal .Qourts. £Qllections made in all parts of the §Jate. 

Alexander'^, kenaday, 
BM ilxtl Si 1. W,, Wa§hlngt@n,, i. C,, 

ATTORNEY FOR THE PROSECUTION OF CLAIMS IN ALL THE DEPART- 
MENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND BEFORE THE 
COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS. 



mw 



(^^ 



IN CENTRAL MICHIGAN. 

Ob tie Line of tte FM & Pere Marpetle Railwaj, 

A COMPLETE RAILROAD FROM 

CjjIciIo ami ^cJioit, uia j^ast ^agiitam, to "Jtttlin^tun, 

THKOUGH THE t;KNTRAL PORTION OF THE STATE. 

Good Soil, Good Timber, Good Air, Good Water, 
Good Title and Healthy Climate. 

SjIooIs, Cliiirclies, and all tlie Blessiis of Moierii CiTilizatloii. 

For further particulars, address 

Land Commissioner, E. Saginatv, Mich. 



